Hotel Hindusthan International

The floor staff were friendly and helpful, and I enjoyed both the food and the breakfast buffet. I also wish the restaurant promotions had been shared on a flyer instead of advertised by calling guests in their rooms. After a long travel day and an hour's drive from the airport, I appreciated how quickly check-in went. I was too tired at the time to mind the front desk's professional but emotionless welcome. In the morning, though, the dated feel of the hotel was hard to miss, from the callous interior to a bathroom that seemed about 20 years old. I didn't enjoy using it, and in a five-star hotel I'd expect a telephone there too, so that cost it a star for me. The mattress was too soft for my taste, though I realize that's personal preference.

I know the feel of a proper five-star hotel from visiting nearly all the well-known luxury places in the city, and this one doesn't come close. I'd give it one star, and calling it a five-star property feels misleading. When I arrived, nobody acknowledged me, greeted me, showed me where to go, or offered me a seat. I had to find somewhere and settle in by myself. The staff seemed uninterested and unaware, with poor product knowledge and no warmth, attention, or effort to help. The hospitality standards were shocking. A very disappointing experience, and I wouldn't recommend it.

The staff's casual attitude made every request feel like a bother. There was no urgency or accountability, and the food was average at best. The hotel feels poorly run as well as worn out, so I'd choose somewhere else if possible. During my three-night stay, I had to move rooms three times, from 718 to 723 and then 727, because problems kept coming up. The property is ageing badly: using a basic room heater caused frequent power trips, and I found cockroaches in the bathroom in room 718. The stay was frustrating from beginning to end.

The breakfast buffet staff behaved very badly. Even after learning that a booking for two people meant only one could have breakfast, they told us to check again with reception about how many people were allowed. It was madness. There were no spoons at the dining area, and we were told to get them ourselves. The rooms were very dirty, and the washroom taps were rusty. I'd rather stay somewhere else than come back to this rubbish.